A METHOD TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL ACCEPTABILITY OF RELEASES OF RADIONUCLIDES FROM NUCLEAR-FACILITIES

A method to evaluate the potential of radionuclide releases to harm the environment is presented. The method employs four steps. First, humans are used as an indicator species because of their known radiosensitivity and because assessment methodology has been well developed. Second, predicted or measured radionuclide concentrations in soil, water, and air are compared to environmental increment values for each radionuclide. The environmental increment values are mostly based on natural variability and are useful for screening potentially unacceptable concentrations. Third, radiological doses are calculated to generic target organisms and compared to a dose criterion. We define a generic plant, fish, mammal, and bird using available methods and data. We suggest that if the calculated dose < 1 mGy.a-1, radiological impacts on nonhuman biota should be negligible. The fourth step is an in-depth assessment. which would only be required if doses to the generic target organisms exceed the criterion. This method was used to evaluate environmental protection from geological disposal of nuclear fuel wastes in Canada, and may be applicable in other cases.